A former global creative director of Saatchi and Saatchi has been appointed as executive creative director at Wolverhampton-based Connect Group.

The firm said James Sinclair brings a wealth of experience of some of the world’s biggest agencies and brands in sectors ranging from automotive to fashion and beauty.

His notable work has included the ’Keep Walking’ campaign for Johnnie Walker whiskey, which boosted global sales by 12 per cent in the first three months of breaking and went on to propel the brand to global dominance of key markets with share gain in certain regions of as much as 60 per cent.

He said: “I have been looking to join an independently owned and run agency for years. It’s where I started. “It’s the most fun I’ve had in advertising.

“And my interest has gravitated to helping to grow an agency brand and have a proper impact on its progress.

“Not so feasible at the giant networks.

“Agencies go through a typical life cycle.

“The best years are always when the founder member is still in the building. When that source-energy and inspiration is still on tap.

“Of Connect specifically, I was, of course, attracted to their current clients. Who wouldn’t be attracted to the likes of Bentley, Jaguar, Goodyear and Brintons?

“Just as impressive was the way these brands were handled.”

He added the final piece of the puzzle was the attitudes of Rob Hampton and Antony Green, two of the firm’s directors